Great video, you could be a professional car reviewer. Wonderful confidence on camera.

@sen5908

Жыл бұрын

I have said the same, he now carries out his videos in an effortless manor, would love to see him review brand new cars, as I think they would be a proper review, by a knowledgeable chap

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, that's very kind of you to say :)

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Sen :) I would love the opportunity, but I need my channel to grow just a little more first!

@sen5908

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam Not a problem,👍😉

We had a facelift silver E46 320d SE and it was simply the most complete car I've known

I had an e36 328i a few years ago and ran it from 90k to 154k. It never broke down and always started. I had to replace the viscious fan, radiator, drop links and rear top mounts on it in that time. I also changed the plastic water pump for the metal one as a precaution. I didn't consider it to be unreliable.

@valentijn9

Жыл бұрын

E36 328i are awesome cars

I had an E36 328is. That was the best driving car ever. It had amazing road feel and I felt like I was in total command of it.

@tz6414

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree the e36 steering feels and pedal feel was so direct, literally was a real driving machine. Felt so precise on the road , drove one in 95 with the classic Kronk rear sticker

@16rumpole

Жыл бұрын

@@tz6414 I was more in tune with that car than many a girlfriend

The advantage of eventually getting a Touring is that you would be able to fit even more of your friends in it. Not necessarily in any comfort, but you didn't specify that.

Beautiful car, Ed. A well sorted and unmessed with E46 is a bloody brilliant steer. Such a well rounded and capable car, with a hugely charismatic engine and an absolutely superb ride and handling compromise.

A great update Ed. It's a pretty solid car and so far the cost to sort out the teething (from storage) issues has been reasonable. The SE spec is probably the one that I would consider if I was in the market, smooth enough but also direct enough. Drive then for hours without feeling fatigue unlike one or two of the sport setup cars that I've been in. You have very good self control talking behind the wheel or you have a very good standard of other drivers where you are. If I were trying to do your job I would possibly require a bleep box or meditate as some other drivers are less than entertaining in there driving manners. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Anthony :) It's certainly looking a good buy so far. Solid, not at all perfect, but good where it matters. Stone chips can do one!

Great video as usual. Keep up the good work.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris :)

I went from Somerset to Cheshire to collect my Rover 75 2.5 KV6. On the return journey I supposedly averaged 40mpg. I think that's probably a bit optimistic, but it's surprising how economical these 2000s 6 cylinder cars can be on a run. Unfortunately, pottering around town is a different story... I think the E46 is a future classic in the making. I'd love to see yours given a full refresh M539 Restorations style, but that probably doesn't make financial sense. Good to hear you've clocked up some miles and have enjoyed the car. Thanks for sharing :)

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt :) Sounds great for a KV6 that! My Dad recently had a rather tired automatic one, and that was anything but good on fuel! Someday, I'd love to really tuck into a car like this, but I don't even have a driveway to work on! The garage won't fit the E46, and the drive is a slope. So it's simple jobs or garages I'm afraid until I can fund a unit.

@dolomite_73

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam I've done the working the street thing and it's no fun. I'm fortunate enough to have a single garage for the Dolomite and flat-ish driveway for the 75, a unit would be the dream though! A two post lift would be awesome.

Great update & excellent it is proving a reliable & enjoyable car

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate :)

Well done mate great review love your Chanel now 👍🏻

If finances allow treat yourself to fresh dampers and suspension bushes. When in top fighting shape the E46 is a sublime mix of comfort and driver involvement.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

It'd definitely be worth renewing the rubber components and shocks. I didn't mention it in the video, but I'm rather disappointed with the crashiness. It's perfectly comfortable until you come across potholes, which it does love to crash into. I assume new dampers would help tremendously.

These cars by BMW I think were amongst the last of the real mechanical ones. Today’s world has too many electronics. Great review as usual! With this old car I am hoping that the tyres are new or at least no more than 4 years old? That’s critical in my book.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

The tyres were brand new for the car's MOT in September. However, they're rubbish.

@lewis72

Жыл бұрын

I think 10 years old is more reasonable for a life of a tyre. i'm stuffed if I'm spending £800+ every for years for a set of tyres when I'm only doing about 2000-3000 miles a year.

@shankarbalan3813

Жыл бұрын

@@lewis72 in India, the operating conditions are very much harsher than in EU, UK etc. Hence more frequent tyre changes are necessitated.

@lewis72

Жыл бұрын

@@shankarbalan3813 That's probably fair enough. Tyres do degrade more with heat & sun.

@shankarbalan3813

Жыл бұрын

@@lewis72 yes. And with poor road surfaces as well.

The E46 was a great car. I had a 2001 320d from new and out 475k mikes on it. Apart from servicing there were no issues really. It was found of front lower wishbone bushes every 60k and a anti roll bar drop links. Always put Bmw hand brake shoes on it if u want a hand brake that works. Lastly the front innear wing guards rub on the wing and the wing will then rust from the inside. Great cars

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I was made aware very shortly after purchase that I probably have the only E46 in the country with a working handbrake!

@marcusd2380

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam lol good man known u know why

Well I would be more than happy with this E46 , less complicated than more modern 3 series. Proper Beemer.

Clarence is lovely! I dont know much about motorcars but I enjoy your videos very much. This was fun to watch and to listen to. TY for sharing :)

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Tricia :)

Very professional video... i would imagine keeping up an excellent none stop "conversation to camera" while driving around is much harder than you made it look..

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Peter :)

New premium tyres, refresh all suspension and she’ll feel great. Keep up the videos your doing a fantastic job

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Christian :) Yep, new tyres are on the to-do list. I didn't mention them in the video, but while they were new for the MOT, they're awful cheap jobs. As with any car, I hate driving around on rubbish tyres.

Lack of feel in the steering is an easy fix in a BMW. It's a built in BMW trait designed to reduce NVH. There's a 'rubber donut' in the steering column at the lower universal joint. Replace that for an aftermarket machined aluminium donut and you get a BMW with impeccable steering feel. I think they're about £40 and fitting it is about an hour's labour. For me, I didn't notice increased NVH from that, just great steering feel. Next step beyond that, to give it the best steering you've ever felt, and incredible turn-in, is to fit M3 'lollipop' bushes at the back of the front lower arms, and M3 top mounts. That gives you a couple of degrees of camber, hence the incredible turn-in. Going even further, you can fit the M3 top mounts the 'wrong way' (ie put the left on the right, and right on the left), to give you added castor angle as well as camber. This added castor gives you not only even better turn-in, but also even better steering feedback, and it makes the wheel return to centre with more force than it otherwise would. That bit helps particularly if you ever want more control with drifting - when you go sideways, the steering will send itself not towards centre, but towards the opposite lock that you want to control the slide, to the point that you can let the wheel slip between your fingers, and it will find the correct steering angle I must admit I'm talking in terms of E36 rather than E46, but it should be pretty much the same. I use my E36 for autotesting (J turns, donuts, handbrake turns around a coned course against the clock (- search youtube for autotesting)), and daily driving. Every BMW is an amateur clubman-level race car that's been softened for road use to be sold to the public. By removing just the soft bits you're happy to remove (eg steering rubber donut), you can tailor the car to what is your particular 'ultimate driving machine' combo of daily driver and club-level rally car. Without making it look in any way modifed.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for that Alan! I'll do some research.

@warrenny

Жыл бұрын

Wow. I'm impressed 👍. I know a few things, but that's so cool. I have never heard about changing out some of those components, but I can definitely see how that would be beneficial. I would love to do some work like that to my humdrum sedan just for a little extra driving pleasure, but I'm in Brooklyn now, and the only places that do that kind of work have a mile long waiting list.....and they are not cheap.

@alan-

Жыл бұрын

@@warrenny Like I say, I'm talking about an E36 rather than an E46, but I think they're very similar, or there are similar upgrade paths. I learned that (and had the work done by) an independent BMW rally specialist in the UK. I was amazed how much it improved the steering and turn in while still keeping on the same shocks and springs. Previously I'd usually added coilovers to a car, but honestly this gave more improvements and didn't have the downside of a harsher ride. So it's more about changing the geometry than firming up the suspension. Add a couple of degrees of camber and castor. But just replacing the rubber donut will give take out that numb feeling from the steering.

@alan-

Жыл бұрын

@@warrenny Oh - one other modification on my E36, (but less important), was to replace its steering rack with an E46 "purple tag" rack. My E36 came with a pretty slow rack as standard, and the suggestion was to change to a reconditioned second hand "purple tag" steering rack for about £70. They come from some particular model of E46 but I can't remember which - maybe the 330 or the Z4 or something. However, yours might already have a reasonable rack, and I think the main improvements were from the other parts in any case. I think the purple tag is 3 turns lock-to-lock whereas my original was rather slow at something like 3.5 turns lock to lock. Because E36s and E46s are so similar, it was a straight swap, just bolted straight on.

I have always wanted to drive a straight six engine, I bet its smooth,

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I could never go back. My friend with the M240i and I have both said there's just nothing that matches the noise and refinement unless you go up to a V12.

Great review of your BMW. 325i is a lovely engine. Love the styling of this era.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks as always Phillip :)

I always enjoy your videos comma and this is no exception. Since you mentioned the E30, I'm surprised you didn't also mention its contemporary the- E28. Right now I'm looking at a 535is that has been advertised as a project, but there may not be a horrible amount of things to do to it. The 'is' package, at least in the States, was wonderful as it was largely just options targeted to one who really liked to drive spiritedly. In fact, one of the best cars I ever drove was the US spec 318is. It pretty much had all the M3 goodies except for the drivetrain, there were very few options if any available on it. Just the good mechanical bits for fun.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dennis :) I love the E28 - more than the E30 - but I didn't mention it as they didn't do a factory Touring! A close friend and I have been fawning over the idea of just a relatively basic 520i in a nice shade with a light interior. We've promised we'll have matching E28s some day!

Had a E36 for 4 years…nothing went wrong

You're right about the airbag light being a loose connection under the seat. E46's are known for it.

I have a 2002 318ti compact. BMW have recalled my car twice. Both times sorting out the driver & passenger airbags. This was done for free, along with a full safety inspection, wash & valet. For free.

Beautiful car, Ed. You jumped from the bottom to the top of the automotive food chain 😉👌🏼

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't put a 20-year-old BMW at the top of the food chain! ;)

@warrenny

Жыл бұрын

Ed's just being modest. He knows driving any BMW kicks ass!

You didn't tick the box for fold down seats, you bought a Touring! I had one, probably the best car I've ever had.

I agree. I’ve had many BMWs from e28 to e38. I still have a mint 330 e46. While they were all ‘nice’ there is only one I’d ever have again and that was an e34 v8. It stood head and shoulders above the rest and I’ve had m3s, m5 and all manner of smaller engines. It hit the spot of speed, feel, character and being good enough to care about but not too worried to park it somewhere

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I do love a straight-six, but I would do some bad things for a sorted Daytona Violet E34.

@warrenny

Жыл бұрын

​@@TwinCam lol. Yes, there is something special about the e34.

Love the video and your BM looks really cool, I bought a fiat 500 that hadn't been used much for 3 years and had pretty much the same issues. I'm really contemplating buying a BM as my next car because they just look good ( or am I getting old ? ) Hope to see more updates on yours 👍.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Mickael :) I do really like the 500. It's aged like wine. It's a car a lot of men seem to dislike purely because they're insecure in their masculinity!

@weirbrook

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam it's certainly the right car to own in this cost of living crisis, £30 a year tax and mid fifties MPG. It hadn't been used much before I bought it and only had clocked up 3.800 miles 👍. And when I was young most cars were this size so who cares about masculinity 😀.

Yippee! Ed behind wheel where he should be - with a wheel in one hand the other on the gear stick. I say that because it is when you come to life and let us know the sense/feel/character of a car. When you open the 6 pots one can see a smile creep up from you bum through your hands and to your face where the Ed-satisfied beams spreads across your phisog! As you say so eloquently, the Beemer is a cruiser with a hint of driver satisfaction, but for me it is only the sound of a XK six through a stainless steel exhaust on both my former XK140 DHC and my 3.4 MII that really cuts the motoring mustard! And both drifted wonderfully! Lol. Yet my Sunday Ed fix left to Monday due to a super liquid lunch that prefaced a doze and dreams of cars I have owned as, as usual, a joy. You are unique in the motoring review world. Never lose you infectious enthusiasm - it's you true USP as it is genuine and not acted or scripted! Ta muchly for an Ed weekend boost! Rob

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks as always Rob. You're far too kind :)

Nice car buddy. I’ve had an e21 4 cyl, e30 and an e46 6 cyl. I share your passion. My second car is a 16 yr old (BMW) Mini. Starts first time, every time.

No such thing as a perfect car. The only way to get everything you want is to have an endless supply of money to spend on cars. 😆 I'm glad to see that you can be critical of your own purchases. Nothing is as obvious as the person who thinks they have the perfect car, house, life ,etc. E34... beautiful cars....may be their best design ever. All of the 5 series are beautiful, even the brand new ones. Honestly though if I were to ever own a 3 series, it would be the e30. Some enthusiasts will tell you it's a sin to modify a car. The real trouble is that once you start, it becomes addictive. But it's fun if you can afford it.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! Variety is the spice of life, and while I wouldn’t choose it to go for a weekend blast, any other car would be much worse on those big journeys 😎

@alan-

Жыл бұрын

I thought it was a sin to modify a car, until I got a cappuccino and now an e36. They are sooo much better for it. But still look stock.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

@@alan- Some cars were born to be modified!

@warrenny

Жыл бұрын

@@alan- Love it! Low key is definitely the best. I'm a fan of some appearance mods; it always depends on the end result. There's no right or wrong of course, it's just nice when people surprise you with that extra power that you weren't expecting. Your Cappuccino....is that a Kei car?

@alan-

Жыл бұрын

@@warrenny Agree, and the cool thing about car culture is there is so much sub-culture. Yes, the (Suzuki) Cappuccino is a kei sports car: RWD, turbo, 8,500rpm as standard, (mine 9,800rpm), double wishbone, standard forged crank, etc. LOTS of fun!

Great video Ed, and great car. I am a tad envious as I love older cars that have been looked after and still have years of life. In my opinion, this generation of BMW are si much prettier than the current crop. Cheers.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks John, I certainly agree :)

I've had my '01 E46 318i sedan for a few years now, I can attest at this age they do indeed have issues. Namely cooling systems - All the plastics are shot and are being replaced, 3 of 4 window regulators have died and since been replaced. Currently chasing a vacuum leak. The 4 speed automatic is adequate, shifts smoothly. But it DOES have fold down seats, ASC, AND piano black interior trim. 😅 But behind the wheel, driving, it still drives like "the ultimate driving machine" at least in comparison to other cars in its class.

I bought a 2001 328i 4 door, white with tan interior and the 19 inch 6 spoke wheels. Because it was the demonstrator car, it had the sport and luxury options. It was one of the best all-around cars I've ever owned. I had it for 4 years and only ever had to replace the brake light bulbs. Fast and comfortable with very capable handling. I only got rid of it because I wanted the 2005 Audi TT Quattro, black with biscuit interior. Would love to own a bimmer again, but it just doesn't make sense in NYC to drive anything of value when you park on the street. Great video, and in the US back in the day, BMWs were much more reliable, it seems. Being a young guy, going to school with a new BMW was a great moment in my life. Thanks for reminding me of that.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kev :) This one was a demonstrator, funnily enough!

I have the 3.0 litre version of this engine in my E60... just over 200k miles on it now, with me putting 120k miles on it. Been bullet proof !

I have an e46 330i se with the soft suspension. After reading the forums a few years ago i decided on koni srt shocks and h and r springs. Lowers it a little but doesn't make it to stiff. Had these for 10 years on it and been excellent. Only thing I don't like is the steering on my early one is the really light American spec. Which is nice in town but lacking the feel of my older again 323i which much heavier early steering which was so much better imo. Having said that I've had the car 15 years now and still haven't found a replacement that does everything so well. Went to trade it in multiple times and always found the replacement lacking in something. I've averaged 35 mpg on a 700mile trip round Scotland. With some spirited driving involved which I think is amazing for a 3.0. would recommend getting the metal upgraded water pump too. I lost my 323 to it freezing up and the engine eating it. Never had a coolant issue in 14 years since I replaced water pump and expansion tank when I bought the car. Preventative maintenance is definitely a good idea on these. Had maybe 20 other cars in the time I've owned the 330 and just can't bare to sell it, especially since they seem to be ridiculously underpriced to me. Compared to other similar performance cars that seem to be worth much more. Also mine is very fun and capable. Not sure it it's because I basically have brand new suspension all round and had all the bushes done. The shocks and springs made a massive difference to how it drove also. Felt almost dangeriously disconnected before I replaced everything.

My 2002 E46 320d Sport did 217,000 before I sold it. Very reliable car. Yes, the airbag light comes on when a front seat is moved back as they age. A cheap airbag light resetter off EBay fixed mine. The heater 'hedgehog' resistor tends to blow after 10 years. A pig to take out as the screws are very inaccessible. Take my word and fit a BMW OEM. They're twice as expensive as a compatible part but they blow after 2 years or less. Ask me how I know! The dashboard brightness resistor can be troublesome after 10 or so years as well! I had the swirl flaps taken out and blanks put in as these can fall into the engine as the car ages.

Suburb cars, I've owned my E46 for 8 years and it remains a highly competent and amazingly comfortable car. Sadly the only down side is after 19 years the rust is taking hold and the cost to repair it out weighs the value of the car.

Excellent stuff! I'm a big fan of the E46 as it was the first BMW I drove that I really liked. Such nicely balanced styling. I looked for a manual 330cd but good ones seem to be very hard to find and cost ludicrous amounts. The smart thing would be to buy a saloon - which you did! Enjoy.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

That's why I ended up with the 325i! Many people seemed to think, naively, that I could have got a 330Ci for the same money. Not true. I did go to look at a 330Ci for £3500, but it was a dog with moon mileage.

And my £600 (in 2015) 1998 A6 C5 2.8 Quattro Avant Auto - Called Pegasus, has window buttons in the right place, a lovely interior can't stall, gets me back up the hill in the snow, has never let me down and you can camp in the boot....

I can certainly understand what you mean about lack of standard equipment in BMWs. Just watched a couple of old Top Gear videos from the 1990s where Jeremy Clarkson highlights this. He test drove the 325 coupe from around 1992 (the generation before yours), and made the point. Also in around 1994, they brought out a stripped version of the 316 for £14,000. Not only was there no equipment in it to speak of, but it also took at same time as a 1.1 K-series Metro to accelerate to 60mph. A friend of mine had a previous generations 323i (2.5 litre engine) and a 330i from your generation. I didn’t drive them, but was a regular passenger in both, and the older 323 felt sharper, even though the 330 was clearly the faster car.

Great vid on Clarence. Just one observation: are your gear changes always so fast? You may end up with linkage issues if you tear through the 'box like that 😉

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I’m not hustling it anymore than it safely can be. Any slower and the revs drop too much, prematurely wearing components like the clutch and making the car jolt more than necessary.

Great Honest review Edd, having owned an E39 5 series I agree Beemers are good drivers cars, and generally the build quality is pretty good, but like all cars they have their issues and for my taste lack enough character, havinb said that I would have another 5 series, an E39 preferably as it’s a good looking car. Your E46 looks in nice condition though and sounds really nice.

Good vid. I'm the second owner of an immaculate, low mileage, 2003 facelifted manual 325i Sport with the alcantara interior and have had it for 14 years now. I also bought a brand new manual 325Ci Sport, again with an alcantara interior, in 2003. I sold that a few years ago. All things considered, the 325i Sport saloon is probably the one to have. They are fantastic cars and I'd argue against a lot of the reasons you down them here. They are quick but not Golf-R quick. They're just a great all round car and I feel they're grossly undervalued right now for what they are. I'm constantly debating whether I should sell mine, only because I've had it a long time and am a bit bored...absolutely no other reason. Years ago I had a gorgeous 2.8i Capri and the E46 reminds me a lot of that. It too was quick but not Cossie-quick. It was just a great all rounder... at the time I opined that it looked and felt great to drive but all around me disagreed and thought it was a boy racer joke of a thing. Wish I'd ignored them and kept it now as time has proven me right. Anyway... after looking at this, I think I will keep my E46... I'm probably an authority on all the things that go wrong with them at this stage.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks David :) To be honest, despite my love for light interiors, I'd really like a set of alcantara sports seats. They just look so good! I'd keep it if I were you. As I said, they're getting to that point now where they're very slowly beginning to appreciate. I think people are realising that the E36 is both overpriced and not good enough compared to these E46s. Weirdly, I'd like to try a Compact on for size. Sounds strange, but having done a little reading, they have a few adjustments to things like the steering rack that may make the car feel dartier than a saloon. Food for thought!

I’m a dyed in the wool Ford fan, but if I ever wanted a car to traverse Europe on a daily basis I always dreamt of having a 635d BMW. In my opinion probably the finest trans-continental luxury GT ever made.

Ed, just a note about the airbag warning. I have a Saab 9-3 that had this issue after I removed/refitted the passenger seat to fit a speaker, and the cause was a loose connection. On the seat rail there is a sensor that senses how far back the seat is set so it can adjust the airbag deployment to suit. Check there and you might find the issue. Keep us updated.

Great video as always Ed. Do you think you will keep all 3?

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Realistically, I’d like to sell one Metro, and that would have to be Melody, but because of the kindness and nature of how I got her, I could never bring myself to sell her. So the two Metros have to stay!

@newto74

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam can’t you send one down to Stoke for me to look after instead of what I do drive. I sell cars, VW and am driving an ID.4. It took one look at the snow yesterday and point blank refused to get off my drive 😂.

My friend has a diesel one of these. The passenger window regulator packed up in 2018, and I put in a Chinese one from Amazon. Sadly that also packed up in 2020. If you can afford them, get the BMW part.

I’ve had an E46 328ci and loved it, I now own a E63 645ci, well this is my second e63 the first one I owned for two months untill someone pulled into my off side door and rear quarter panel and I went down to Basingstoke from central Scotland to buy it so I was really annoyed at it and with the insurance pay out I went out and bought another 😊

I hope your Metro's "Melvin & Melody" aren't getting jealous. Looks like you had a great day for a drive.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Melvin might be feeling jealous while he's awaiting his turn in the garage, but I'm sure Melody is feeling the love!

@jetsons101

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam Sounds like "somebody" may need a three-car garage soon.....

Hi Ed! “More than enough space in the back for all of my friends” (I’m sure that’s not true buddy ha ha!) 😁

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

You underestimate the ability of at least 10 youths to share the rear bench of a car, allegedly officer 😉

@philtucker1224

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam 😂🤣👍👍👍been there (1970) 😊

If it cuts out check the rubber pipe to the throttle body. Often they split and let unmetered air in causing the engine to cut out.

I once had an E46 too and very happy with it from 80k km until 330k km when i sold it. 2005 330d touring with M package. Tires are very important on the E46. Michelin Pilot Sport and Pirelli P zero were great. Hankook ventus V12 felt bad and sluggish. Belt drive especially harmonic damper on crankshaft can lead to destroyed alternator. If you hear a rattle when turning off the engine, consider changing the damper wheel. With New beltdrive and damper, the engine runs very smooth again. Flywheel became noisy, oil consumption went up so i sold it

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I forgot to mention them in this video, but the tyres are something I need to address. While they were new for the MOT, they're cheap awful things.

@zarthrobert417

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam a friend of mine had an E46 Cabrio with cheap Nankang tires from the previous owner. We switched cars several times because he could not believe my touring handled so much better on the P Zeros. He also changed to P Zeros shortly after and was very happy with the handling after that. Worst combo: P Zero on front axle, Venus V12 at the back. It felt unsafe to drive faster than 120 Mph, very unstable and a lot of oversteer

All the six cylinder manual BMWs were easy to stall. I think the flywheel is lighter because of the smooth engine. Mind you having driven a number of A series cars over the years they are very forgiving and you hardly need to slip the clutch.

Has to be up there in the top one of your now considerable KZread output young Ed. Have another "Like". Looking forward to more of the same high level content and valid comments. The BMW brand Front Brake calipers on my MG ZTs including the ZT260 V8 are prone to have "issues" without regular daily driver "exercise" use as you mention. As indeed many cars' components will suffer from lack of use. You are correct about the way the 'merican car enthusiasts view the blue and white "Money Pit" propeller cars. I much enjoy "Ring that Bell" one Scotty K's KZread output although I do not agree with all of his opinions. With all his arm waving gesticulations he must have arm muscles the size of cartoon's Popeye... 🤣 A complete contrast to the way us Brits put BMW on too high a pedestal. They make nice cars but the quality is no longer the level as in the distant past since they, along with some of the other so called "Premium" German marques, very successfully entered the volume sector. Something had to give to achieve that competitive success and it shows as both my "Old School" MoT testers confirm from their daily car testing experiences. I recently drove my long term friend who "always buys German" 4-Series Coupe recently and I was not impressed overall. Indeed pleased to get back into my aged MG Zeds and creep about in them. Nicer places to be and yes, drive too. OK I lied, not much creeping about involved ... 🤣 Keep up the good work Edward, that cultured North Western accent adds to the content. £2995 is well spent. There are good value opportunities out there for folks who know about cars.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I'd love a 75 one day. They're such pretty cars.

@warrenny

Жыл бұрын

I'm just one 'Murican....so I could be the "minority report"..... I think because German cars were so trendy at one point, the counter weight of haters unfairly criticized them as they came to the used car market. Expensive cars are more expensive to maintain. Simple math. Reliable sources state that BMWs are well built and largely trouble free. The few people I know that have them say they are really reliable.

@T16MGJ

Жыл бұрын

@@warrenny BMWs are not the quality they once were. Ask your fellow countryman Scotty Kilmer "Ring That Bell" KZread car guy about that. He's right of course. Thirteen years ago my younger brother had a nice 6-cylinder 3 series cabriolet. Got several images of that good looking car. Bought new in the family and low mileage. Then he told me it needed a four figure sum on the suspension alone to enable a pass of the UK's annual MoT test. Test mainly safety issue related. He sold it. My regret, not buying it off him for what the paltry sum dealership allowed against the next car. Then fixing it myself. Would have done so had I not had too many other demands on my time. The last BMW I drove was my friend's 4-Series two door coupe. I'm no lightweight and my friend even heavier. As soon as I sat in the driver's seat it was most uncomfortable. Only a few years old and the seat had collapsed under his weight after only a few years from new. Framework digging into flesh. Not nice. They are good looking cars and with impressive on paper factory specs. Reality for far too many owners is a whole different kettle of ball games.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t trust Scotty Kilmer to talk about his own life without being horrendously biased 😬

@T16MGJ

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam aha .. Have a thumbs up. Can i take it that you are not one of his 5.56 Million regular subscribers? Bias is good provided it leans the right way. Real hands on experience matters. Plus lots of gesticulations using them vigorously. 🖖 Live long and prosper as someone famous once said. Best Policy.

They're great machines the German mid size, the quality and engineering 1st class. Those BMW's are a great, firm sedan that can still be parked with nowadays parking. I had a Merc 300CE, and enjoyed the same, an agile yet comfortable everyday car that was ahead in safety also. They're kind of worth the parts and maintenance on that alone for me 👍😉😊

I know what you mean by the suspension being a little soft аnd the sports being rather firm. If only you could specify something in-between! As for your suspension, it may benefit from new bushes throughout (a project?), along with adjustable dampers for you to play around with. I well remember how 'stingy' BMW were with the features, as well as just how expensive they were to add. At the time, we used to joke how their SE (Special Equipment) should have been renamed Standard Equipment! I have driven a few manual BMWs, and while not up to the slickness of many of their contemporaries from Ford, I never had any complaints.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Still feels good, but you can tell a little slop has come in just due to mileage. A refresh of the rubbers would help tremendously I'm sure. Will I do it? Probably not. Not for now anyway.

Spent a fortune when younger trying to find the right "Daily", it don't exist. A good "Daily" as you have is the way to go, be happy, enjoy the comfort and at 3k for what seems to be a good one, think you done well. You mentioned it, a different model for the weekend blasts, a Metro or the like for the B roads, soon you have a garage full of single purpose vehicles. I ended up with a sports saloon, a hot hatchback, large MPV (due to family size), and a Volvo estate for tip runs and parts pick ups. 20 years on still got a Volvo, an MPV (Grandkids), a sports saloon and in place of the hot hatch, and economical little runaround all over 20 yr old, classics now I guess. Not a lot really changed, a hell of a lot learnt though.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! That's why, though I could, I'm not going to start modifying. I've seen enough friends modify their dailies and end up with something very cool but undriveable on a day-to-day basis!

As a mechanic in Australia I regularly service these vehicles in my shop. Being easy to stall is probably the electronic throttle which may need cleaning or could be sticking. They are very reliable engines but the plastic parts are very brittle & expensive when the do break. However any car that is over 20 years old I would personally consider having all the airbags checked. In some cases I have had to replace the airbag module. £400 is very cheap as for me to the same work in Australia it would cost nearly £900. Also in Australia BMWs are more of a luxury brand so ours are all about the ride quality & being plush rather than being an out & out driving machine.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I did reset the throttle's learning and that really brought the response back to life - for all of 10 minutes - until I was sat in traffic and it 'learned' to be all lethargic again.

@anakinskywalker4113

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam you may need to open the throttle body inside the engine which could be all gummed up.

I half expected to hear that you were going to trade Clarence in for a 330Ci Clubsport :) I missed out on a 335i touring a couple of weeks ago, very good price and good spec too with lots of documentation, I could kick myself for not jumping on that.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Imagine that! Imagine having the money!

With your ambition Ed you need a bigger garage! Keep going buddy!😊👍

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Someday, hopefully!

I've always wondered whether the easy stalling is linked to the clutch delay valve?

If you want to sharpen up the steering feel in the E46 ... change to the sport front arms. The bottom ball joints on the SE are rubber mounted in the arm, the sport ones are not. My 330cd Msport had a sport one on one side and an SE on the other.... and it was very noticeably sharper when leaning on the sport arm than the other direction. I agree the E46 is so much better than the E36, and I hate the E36 dash, especially the vents above the glove box which look like an afterthought. I disagree with your window switch opinion. My E90 has door mounted switches and I prefer the E46 position in the centre console! The e34 is sublime in my opinion, best built car I have ever had (170+ owned)

Next video - Twin Cam gets rid of all rover cars and buys a shed load of Beamers

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Never gonna happen. The getting rid of Rovers part I mean. The shed load of Bimmers definitely will ;)

Great video BMWs are brilliant cars Maybe trade up to a 330i touring Looking forward to your next video:)

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jonathon :)

I know someone who’s bmw 130i blew up…..total write off. I was shocked tbh. Not even that old. Bmw 3 series was really popular by the naughties….but, most in U.K. were diesel and a few poverty spec 318i. So the straight six is rare….it’s even more rare with a stick shift (manual)….most were automatic. By contrast the diesels were mostly manual. The manual gear shift in the 320D from that era was very light…2 fingers to change gear. That’s a lot lighter than many the manual shift of front drive cars. Cars that stall too easily, like on on/off switch. The worst one I drove was a mk2 Ford Orion 1.6i petrol gia….absolutely horrible. Others tho not as bad, mk1 Yaris 1.0 & 1.3, Ford Fiesta mk2 950cc. What’s the preference, front drive, rear drive, or 4x4/AWD ? …the odd thing is, tho I’m a fair bit older, rear drive was seen as old fashioned when I was growing up…most cars were going or gone front drive, apart from BMW and Mercedes. So my bias is toward front drive.

Check the connection under the seat.

Look into an E82 125i. - 3.0L straight six - NA - N52B30. You will love it.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I'm a big fan of the 1 Coupe, so much so that I did namecheck it at one point in this video! Along that same theme, the friend with the M240i and I were talking about how cool an early M2 would be, and that's very much a progression of that original 1 Coupe theme, albeit turbocharged and turned up to 11!

Hi Ed i think theres a clutch delay valve on there, my brother could not stand his clutch with the delay valve fitted, just remove, join the pipes and bleed... KZread vid below

@garethross6258

Жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/doiZxY-IYqXMmbQ.html kzread.info/dash/bejne/lqVnlLiBcruWdaQ.html

Save the manuals!! 🕹

They all start off in one car or another but they always end up in a German ! Range Rovers Citroens Renault have all passed through my hands but you cannot beat a 90s to early 2000’s German . More a Mercedes man myself but mine are all straight sixes . The perfect engine

@ambivalentonion2620

Жыл бұрын

they're the worst years for Mercedes

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I've always loved BMWs. But I ain't giving up the Metros anytime soon. However, my Dad has had a remarkedly mixed German car history. Every one he's had has disappointed, but that's probably because they all had four-cylinders. First was an E36 316i, then a W203 C180 Kompressor, an E87 118d, and finally an E90 318i.

@BEGGARWOOD1

Жыл бұрын

@@ambivalentonion2620 I love my w126 and r1/9 1991 and 1996 respectively. Had the r129 for 17 years with very few issues . My w126 will go on forever if it’s looked after

bro that is not overpaid, in croatia bone stock 300,000km pre fl 320d are going at 3000euros

Have you checked with BMW for outstanding recalls - a number of cars (from that era) have a driver’s airbag recall.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

It has had its recall.

There's a brother? I'm guessing younger, does he have an interest in cars? I had an e36 328i Sport coupe years ago which did have the sport suspension, and was a brilliant mix of comfy when you wanted, and fun-to-hustle when you wanted that too - the e39 that followed it was also a great mix of comfort and performance for a big 4-dr saloon - but maybe that's because it was an M5 ;)

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

He does not. He understands, and loves motorsport, but has no outward interest in passenger cars.

Good honest update on Clarence. I'm no BMW lover. Your era of beemer however is a good looking car and with a very good engine. E34 E36 E this E that E the other etc etc etc. Didn't anyone tell BMW E's are bad for you? Maybe that's why beemer owners are like they are due to their brains being distorted.

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

Just as there are bad carbs and good carbs, there are bad E-numbers and good E-numbers ;)

🤗

Funny how my e46 325ci sport has rear folding seats

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

It's strange. The vast majority of coupes had folding seats, but it's a rare option for saloons. Sounds so backwards, but I assume it came standard on certain coupe specs, while it didn't on the saloon.

That perception of quality in the UK was versus BL products. My family transitioned to a VW Derby in 1978 from a 1500 Allegro because - reliability, quality... But and no offence to American viewers, I gather that here is Europe we tend to have great dealer networks and tend to maintain our cars better than Americans, particularly those in areas where getting to a dealer is difficult or impossible. Add in the use of specialist oils, coolants etc.. people often use the wrong fluids. Plus listening to the moaning about Dodge, Chevy, Ford etc... I don't get why they think the Germans are significantly worse - access to knowledgeable technicians aside. I think it is just that Americans assume that if it is not a big block V8 its just a toy...

@TwinCam

Жыл бұрын

I'd say that the European reputation was built by cars like the VWs of the 1970s. While they rusted and occasionally had carburettor issues, they were built to just work and built well, unlike British stuff.

@sjg4967

Жыл бұрын

@@TwinCam No manufacturer is perfect, but I am running around in a 1998 A6, that I bought for £600 in 2015. last year for the mot I had to have a bit of welding done on the two shock mounts (£120) but apart from that I changed a front wing because of a rust spot on the arch. Try finding a Jag or BMW of that age that has not had major sill plating or new sills. It was more than just the 70's and although the Rover 75 does seem to have been a good if rather twee car, all we have left of British cars is JLR. Jag may be about to die and LR are still less reliable than the rest. Back in the 70's 10 - 12 years was about the life of the average car and it would be a banger. I could not have imagined when I was your age that a normal car could make it to 25 and still look and go well, that its on its original exhaust and front struts/springs still blows my mind. But if you look at the conditions in the BL factories vs VW. Mk1 golfs were made in factories that would be recognisable today. Look at the factories that BL they were like Victorian sweat shops. The workers and cars stood no chance in the face of decades of underinvestment and neglect. And underinvestment and neglect plauge the whole economy still.

What could go wrong its a bmw🤣